Response of astrocytes to blood exposure due to shunt insertion in vitro
Funding information: National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Grant/Award Number: R01NS094570
Abstract
The breakdown of the ventricular zone with the presence of blood in cerebrospinal fluid has been shown to increase shunt catheter obstruction in the treatment of hydrocephalus, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are generally unknown. Using a custom-built incubation chamber, we immunofluorescently assayed cell attachment and morphology on shunt catheters with and without blood after 14 days. Samples exposed to blood showed significantly increased cell attachment (average total cell count 392.0 ± 317.1 vs. control of 94.7 ± 44.5, p < 0.0001). Analysis of the glial fibrillary acidic protein expression showed similar trends (854.4 ± 450.7 vs. control of 174.3 ± 116.5, p < 0.0001). An in vitro model was developed to represent the exposure of astrocytes to blood following an increase in blood–brain barrier permeability. Exposure of astrocytes to blood increases the number of cells and their spread on the shunt.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Raw data were generated at Wayne State University and can be made available to other qualified research scientists for appropriate applications and collaborative efforts in accordance with Wayne State University’s materials transfer guidelines as well as those set by NIH and the Hydrocephalus Association. Patentable work will be reviewed by the Wayne State Technology Transfer Office prior to data sharing, were applicable.
